Loose-leaf binder.



J. SCHADE LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED 3.24. ms.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

4 SHEET$SHEET 1- ATTORN EY WITNESSES;

LSCHADEJR LOOSE LEAF BINDER. I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1915.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET2 ATTORNEY WITNESSES 1 7 7.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cr:.,wAsH|Nn'r0\ J. SCHADE, JR- LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. I915.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3 w if m J m m 5 m m 4 8 W m m Q mm m mm 1 WN 1 ATTORNEY WITNESSES: W; 1 M

J. SCHADE, JR.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.24. 1915.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W wm

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CD-.WASNINGTDN,D. c.

To allrwhom it may comer citizen of the United States, residing at the oHNsc AnE, as, or BRooKLYmnnw YORK, ASSIGNOR To NATIONAL BLANK BOOK COMPANY, OF I-IOLYOKE MASSACI-IUSETTS, AyoL NrARY 'rRUsr ASSOCIATION or COPABTNERSHIP HAVINGVAS'TRUSTEES J. -W.YTOWNE, F. B; TOWNE, E. s. TOWNE, J. M. TOWNE', AND F. W. WILSON.

moss-zines BINDER.

Be it known that 1, Joan Sermon, Jr., a

city of Brooklyn, county ofKings, .State'of New York, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and 7 use the same. I

My invention has reference to loose'leaf binders but more particularly refers to that class of such devices known as ring binders,

Ring binders, as commonly used, comprise one or more rocking elements to which lat-} ter. are secured prongs whichare comple:--

mental portions of rings. The rocking ele ments which carry the prongs readily permit the opening and closing'of the latter and this is preferably eflected with a spring action of some. sort. In some instances one' set of prongs'is secured'to astationary part of the'structure' while the othe'rset' of such prongs opposite the first set is secured to a But the approvedsingle rocking element. form of these ring binders comprises two rocking members having their inner edges close together and in pivotal relation these rocking members being/suitably supported and each member carrying a set of prongs that are complemental portions of rings.

"When the prongs are opened the members will rock in one directionand when I the prongs are closed such members will rock in the reverse direction, andas. above stated these rocking movements of the members are preferably effected with a spring action, thespring element always exerting a tension on. these members to keep the prongs opened or closed as the case may be; Many ways of utilizing a' spring element in this.

connection have heretofore been proposed, such as supporting the prong carrymgmem? bersw thln a spring trough, theformation selves, the employment OfTIGSlliGIlt clasps which embrace the members :athwart" the same at suitablelocations, or the' introducture and has nothing in commonwith spring Specification of Letters Patent. 3 Application filed February 24., 1915. SerialNo. 10,257.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

devices of thissort and possesses an inherent novelty which will. be readily appreciated and understood from'the following descriptron and will'be set forth in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved ring binder with end cap sectioned away-Fig. 2

- of the spring element-Fig. 6 is a detail end view ofthe cap employed in the construction shown at Fig. 5Fig. 7 is a view similar to F 1g. 5 but showing a still furtherv modification of the spring element-Fig. 8

is a section at the line 8-8 of Fig. 7-Fig. 9 is view similar to Fig. 5, but showing a roller utilized instead of aballFig. 10 is a view'similar to Fig. 9 but showing a modified form'of the spring impelled element- Fig. 11, isa perspective detail view of the roller 9"Fig. 12 is a view similarto Fig. 10 but showing amodified form of the spring-- F i g. 13 is an'end' view of the structure shown at Fig; 12 with the'ca'p sectionedaway-Fig. 1 1 is a plan view of a ring binder with my improvement applied thereto at points midway the length thereofFig. 15 is an end view of the construction shown at Fig. 14 Fig. 116 is a view similar to Fig.14 but showing a slightly modified manner of applying my improvement-Fig. 17. an end view of the structure shown at :Fig. 16-

Fig. 18 is a plan vie'w'showing my improve-' 18 with the end cap and parts contiguous thereto sectioned away and with the spring removed-Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 "but. showing the position of parts with the prongs opened.Fig..21 is a view similar to Fig.

spective prong elements and their rocking members are integral-Fig. 22 is an end- 18 but showing my improvement applied to a wire structure in which the re- 1s a side elevation of my binder with one end. capsectioned-Fig. 3 is an end view with the cap and its adjoining spring and.

view with the cap and contiguous portions sectioned, away and my 'improvemen't' ap- Y plied toa form of ringbinder in which one set of prongs is stationary while-thefother set is carried by a single rocking'elementp the partslbeing shown in the position thatv they occupywith the prongs closedFig. 23

is a view similar to Fig. 22 but showingthe position of parts with the prongs opened Fig. 24 is a broken plan view, with the end capsectioned away, ofthe structure shown at Fig. 22,'Fig. 25'is a viewsimilar to Fig; 22 except that the. rocking element which carries the movable prongs is made of "wire- Fig. 26 is'a'view. similar to F ig."'-23,YeXcept that [the rocking element which carries'the movableprongs is made of wire, and Fig. 27 is a 'broli'en'plan view, with-theend cap Fig. 25..

sectioned away, of the structure shownat Similar numerals of reference denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawing.

Referring toFigs. l, 2, 3, and 4:, myimprovement,'as applied tov one form of ring binders, contemplates a pair of elongated plate-likewmembers 1 having pivoted relation at their inner edges and carrying'prongs 2,. which construction is quite co'mmon' and requires nov further descrlptionp-lt 1s nec-' essary to support thesemembers 1 in some manner in order that they may preserve, their pivotal relation, and Itherefore preferto employ caps 8 which are secured to thefends "of the members 1 in any suitable manner so as to prevent accidental withdrawal while at the same, timethese end caps, althoughthey areperfectly rigid, do"

not embrace the outer lateral edges of the members '1 so snugly as to prevent free'rocking movements of said'membersf 'lhis construction as thus far described provides a loose leaf binder of'the ring type which is I quite common and isoperable for the pur-.

pose of holding loose .leaVes but such construction does not possess the'snappy, spring nature which the commercial ring binder must possess, and it is this spring feature to which my invention intimately relates and which I'will now'describe. The members 1 at each oftheir ends are cut away so as to form' pockets leach cut away portion on a member forminga complemental part of'the pocket as. a Whole}. I

Each end of the binder is to one endonly, since this will be sufficient to give a clear understanding of my inven -Within the as 4 is ametai ball5, Iwhichis backed by a bow sprin'g elementfi c0 ba'll isconfined "as "against "undue lateral movement by the side walls of the pocket't positioned against the end of the cap; The

and as against any undue movement at right angles-thereto by the upper and lower walls of the cap. The spring is always at a tenprecisely alike, and, therefore I will confine my description a'half round head 11,: a coil s Sicil ans theaters the-e11 always 1m spring action to these members which action is constant and. will hold the latter firmly withthe prongs in opened position. It will be readily understood that'the ball will pass beneath the -members 1 only at its minor di- "pelledagainst the ends of themembers 1 at their-meeting edges, sothat-whentheprongs 5 I are opened theballs will shoot forward be 5';-

neath' I the members-arid fthereby i mpart I ameters sincethe major diameters of the,

ball are such thatsaid ball cannot possibly Q pass between the bottom'of the cap and the.

members themselves. .When theprongsfare closed: the members 1 will thrust against the ball and drive it backward againstits resiliency until said members are passing be-" low an "alined position whereupon the ball will again beprojected and-will override-1 the members at the minor diameters ofsuch ball so as to icause these members to close with a spring action and ,tofirmly hold the 7 prongs in their closed 'position. The iconstruction just described utilizes ajbow spring, which is a good and very convenient form of springv for the purposes'of myinvention, but it will,tof course, beapparentters is always se'ated withinthis collet so that the latter is always "distended somewhat, the V ioo.

result being that. the ball is alwaysunder tension.

The constructions heretofore f described 7 contemplate the use of balls whichxlater I' prefer toemploy inall structures, but itw'ill,

of: course, bGjlObViOllS that ,my invention should not i be. limited in this respect, and therefore. at, Fig. 9; I have shown a structure in 1 all. essentials like that rheretofore 1. de-

scribed, with l the exception that instead of theball laemplo'y a :roller 9 which is backed by the spring element, and operates precisely in the'same manneriasthatgabove described,

with respectlto' the ball itself..- Instead of the ball-"or the, roller, -I=can employ the' structurei'shown atFig; '10,;consistin'g of a1 pin 10 loosely passingfthrough"the end of the cap and terminatingratiitfs inner endfin";

pring 12 being confined between the "head and the 7 cap so that this head is always impelled by the spring against the members l, so as to serve precisely the same purpose as the ball itself. v Referring to Figs, 12; and .13, I- would say thatthese structures are precisely like that I .shown at Fig. '1 exoept'as to the spring element, which latter in these "figures more closely resembles the spring element shown in Figs. 7 and 8. But in these Figs. 12 and 13 I have shown a spring 13 shaped somewhat like a hairpin and confined in the end I of the cap, and the central portions of the ployed which confine the balls as against spring are swelled out somewhat as shown at 14 so as to provide a seat'for the ball which latter rests in this swelled out portion and always is seated therein to an extent sufli cient to constantly place the ball under ten sion for the purposes hereinbefore described.

I have heretofore shown and described the flat plate-like members 1 equippedat the ends for coaction with the-spring impelled member, but --my invention is by no means confined to the ends of the-binder, and, re-

ferring to Figs. 14: and 15, I have shown the members 1 cutaway at portions intermediate their ends so asto form pockets 15, each cut away portion offthe respective members forming, as in the instance above described, a complemental portion of the pocketas a whole. Within these pockets at both ends thereof are metal balls 16, and coil springs 17 are located in the space between the balls and exert a constant pressure thereagainst, so that'the balls will always be spring impelled. The balls themselvescontact the edges of the members-1 just as in the construction hereinbefore described, and the side walls of the pockets 15 restrict the lateral movements of the balls,- while a bottom plate 18 and a cover plate 19 are emvertical displacement. The operation and func'tionof theseballs are precisely the same as the operationand function of the balls heretofore describedwith respect-to Fig. 1.

While I prefer toflutilize the balls, when applied intermediate the ends of the binder, as I have shown at-Fig. 14, and as I have just described above, nevertheless I can omit one of the balls in each of the pockets 15 and-Va backing may"be afforded for the spring by extending a lug 2O upwardly from the bottom plate l8 as shown at Figs. 16 and 17, and in this instance there would be no change whatsoever in the operation and function of the balls.

Loose leaf binders of the ring type do not always employ the fiat plate-like members 1, but the prongs are sometimes secured to mere'rock shafts that are made of wireancl suitably supported, and at Figs. 18, 19, and 20, I have shown a wirestructure of this sort, in which two elongated wires 21 are properly supported within a bottom plate 22 the prong members being riveted or otherwise suitably secured to thesewires. The

' end portions of these wires are bent inwardly and formed into complemental portions of pocket 23, and the extreme ends of the wires are extended inwardly andconstructed so as to have a rocking engagement after the manner of wire structures com monly used.

Within the pocket 23 is the ball 5 backed up by a suitable form of spring 6, and the ends are surrounded by the cap 3 in the same manner as heretofore described with respect to Fig. 1, and it will be perfectly clear that the operation and function of the parts in this-particular instance is precisely the same as the operation and function of the parts heretofore described with respect to Fig. 1. 7

With further reference to these Figs. 18, 19, and 20, I would say that while I have shown a bottom plate,it will, of course, be obvious that such plate is not at all essential to the successful operation of my im-' provement.

In Fig. 21 I have shown an all wire structure of prong and rocking elements, in'

which each rocking element has integral therewith its complemental prong members, and as this construction is well known I will merely say that the numeral 2 1 designates the rocking elements and that at their ends they are bent inwardly in the same manner as at Fig. 1.8 to form the pockets 23, the operation and function of the parts so far as myimprovement is concerned being the same. as has been heretofore described. 4

The descriptions heretofore given all re late to loose leaf binders of the ring type which comprise two pivotally related prong carrying members properly supported, so

that in operation, all the prongs have openingand closing movements, but in some instances one set of prongs is stationary while the other complemental set is movable, and

and portion 28 is secured the cap 5, and a "pocket 29 is formed within the end of the member 25 at the free edge thereof and within this pocket is located the ball 5 which is backed up by a suitable leaf spring 80 secured to the inside of the cap and constantly bearing against the ball.

The portion 28 of the bottom plate and the inside bottom surface of the latter prevent vertical displacement of the ball, which latter is always spring impelled against the edge ofthe member 25 so as to alternately ride above and below the same during the rod 32 may be suitably supported. within v precisely the same. as heretofore:described;

Attached to the bottom plate are the sta tionary prongs Sl with which the movable i prongs cooperate.

"While th construction shown 2 and de scribed,with reference tothese Figs. 22, 23,

I and 24, contemplates, the employment "of a bottom plate with arocking contact for 1 the member. and with the curled over porprongcarrying member rockingly mounted thereon, a-loosely'mountedispringimpelled tion 28, it will be clear that this bottom, plate may be perfectly plain with no upstanding edges. whatever, since the end capsxwill afford a rocking contactzfor the member'25, and will limit the vertical play ofthe balls, just-as has been heretoforedescribed with reference to the structure shown at Fig. 1, "and therefore in utilizingmy invention. in

the manner shown at Figs. 22, 23,'and 24, I do not wish to be limited to any particular formation of the bottom plate.

' faces of the latterwill properly limit, the.

Instead of making the single rocking" mem'ber in plate form it may be made of wire as shown at Figs 25, 26, and 27, in

which instance a wire rod 32 is suitably' supported within one edge of'the bottom plate 26 so as to be capable of rocking movements, and the extremities 33 of this wire are extended inwardly toa pointnear the opposite edge of the plate 26' and are formediinto apocket 34 Withinwhich latter is confined the'ball -5 backed by the spring 30, this ball being restricted as :to

vertical movements by the overhanging pore;

tion 28 of the plate 26 and by the bottom surfaceaof the plate itself, just as :has been above described withrespect to Figs. 22, 23, and 24. I V a: g Themovable prongsj35 are secured to the wire rod n32-by riveting or in any other suitable manner, while the stationary prongs: 36 aresecured to the Qbottomplate26, and 711616116. caps 3 are placed around the extremities of the bottom'plate andthe pOrtions '28, as above described. 1

;,V\7ith further reference to these F 25, 26, and 27, I would call attention to 'the fact i that the bottom plate may be perfectly plain with no upstanding edges since the theend caps while theupper and lower sur- 7 vertical movementsof the ball. 7

From the foregoing description it will b' obvious that my invention constitutes a wide departure from structures hitherto identified with loose leaf binders of the'ringtype, and it will likewise be clear ,that v'my improvement is applicable to many forms of, binders of this class, and thereforel do not wish to be limited as to any particular manner of utilizing my invention, the gist 1 ofwhich'rests in' the broad-idea of-imparting a spring action to a rocking prong carrying member 0r members 'by means of' a1,

spring-impelled element, that "is constantly applied against the ends of said;member; or' imembers or against any;eorrespondingpon tion thereof throughout their length, so that jHaving thus described my invention what 7 I clalm asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent i s:

Inva loose leaf Ibinder; a support, a

limits; to prevent accidental displacement of said; element, the {latteralwa-ys tending to override said member. I V I 3. Ina loose leaf binder, a pair of pivotally connected prong carrying members,a support therefor, and aspring impelledele- I c such elementv alwaystends tooverr de the a -memberormembers, of

so" position withrtheprongs u 0 I a V mounted and contalned within -restr1cted' ment constantly. under 1 tension which 7 tends normally to override said members;

,4, In a loose leaf binder, a pair of pivkotally connectedprongicarryingv members, a

support therefor, said members capable of rocking movements iwithin 'said support, and a loosely mounted spring impelled element engaging said members and always acting to maintain theinembers withthe either open'or closed position.

5. In a loose' l'eaf binder, a -support, a, pair of prong carrying, members mounted thereon and capable of. 'rocking' and having pivotal relation at their inner edges, and a loosely mounted springimpelled elementenr gaging said members and normallytending to keep them out of al-inem'entL.

'- 6. In combination, a pair of prong car 10a prongs 1n i trying members having pivoted rela-tion at f 7 their inner edges, means for confiningfsaid members in their pivoted;'--relation,yand

te'ndto overridesaid members at their meeting edges. 7 7

spring impelled Vmeans ,which constantly 7, Incombination, a Qpair ofiprong carrying membersfhaving pivoted relation at their inner edges, means for confin ng said '7 1 V membersin th'eir pivoted relation, "and springimpelled means adapted to} operate Within restricted limits and constantly tend-x ing to override said members attheir meet?" '7 ingedges, a 7V 8. In a device ofthe character described, a support, a movable prongcarryingmem- V ber mounted thereon, and a :loosely mounted retaining element confined as against dis placement and constantly impi g in t said member to hold the same firmlyi f th rigs, c

45 ing diameters,

the prongs opened or closed butresiliently permitting the movements of said member.

9. In a device of the character described, a support, prong carrying members pivotally related at their inner edges and mounted to rock about their outer edges within said support, and a spring pressed element which and tending normally to override the same.

11. In a device of the character described, a support, a prong carrying member rockingly mounted thereon, and a spring impelled ball loosely confined and adapted to constantly operate against the member to. render its movements resilient.

12. In a device of the. character described, a support, a prong carrying member mounted in said support and capable of rocking movements about its outerlengthwise edge, and aspring impelled element which bears constantly against a width edge of said member in the direction of its length and always tending tooverride said member.

13 In a deviceof thecharacter described, a support, a pair of prong carrying members mounted therein to rock along their outer lengthwise edges and pivotally related at their inner edges, and a spring pressed ele-v ment which constantly impinges against the members at Width edges and in the direction of their length.

14:. In a device of the character described,

a support, a prong carrying'member rockingly mounted thereon, and a loosely confined spring impelled elementhaving vary said element at its minor diameters always tending to override said member, while the major diameters of said element prevent displacement of the latter.

15. In a device of'the character described, a support, a pair of prong carrying mem} bers pivotally .related at their inner edges and rockingly mounted in saidsupport, and a loosely mounted spring impelled element which always impinges against said members at or about their pivotal point and always overrides said members when they are out of alinement.

16. In a device of the character described,

a support, a pair of prong carrying members having pivotal relation at their inner edges and mounted within said support and capable of rocking movements, and a loosely mounted spring impelled element having varying" diameters, said element always overriding said members when out of aline- V ment, and the major diameters of said element being greater than the distance between the planes of the pivotal points of said members in opened and closed positions.

17. In a device of the character described, a'support, a member mounted therein and adapted to rock along its outer lengthwise edge, and a spring impelled element restricted in its movements within certain limits, said element always impelled tooverride said member in the direction of the length of the latter.

18. In a device of the character described, a support, a pair of prong carrying members pivotally related and mounted within said support and capable of rocking movements about their outer edges, and a spring impelled element loosely mounted and operating within restricted limits and always overriding the members when the prongs are either opened or closed.

19. In a device of the character described, a support, prong carrying means movably mounted thereon, a ball adapted to operate against said means, and spring means acting entirely on and through the ball to render the" movements of the prong carrying means resilient. 20. In a device of the character described, a support, prong carrying means movably mounted thereon, a ball, and a spring acting entirely on and through the ball whereby the latter is impinged against said means to hold the prongs open and closed but resiliently permitting the movements thereof.

21. In a device of the character described, a support, prong carrying means mounted thereon, a ball positioned to override said means, and a resilient element adapted to constantly cause an overriding tendency between said means and element.

' 22. In a device of the character described, a support, prong carrying means movably held thereby and having rocking movements about the outer lengthwise edges thereof, and a loosely mounted spring element operating within restricted limits against said copies of this patent may be obtained for five'cents each, by addressing'the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. G. 

